SchoolSAFE

Interoperable Communications In Schools

SchoolSAFE Communications is a web-enabled two-way radio based product that allows for communications interoperability between school radio systems and public safety radio systems.

School-based radio systems are generally less capable and lack the channel capacities, power, and digital signaling to interoperate directly with public safety professionals who may have more sophisticated and much more advanced radio systems. Once the SchoolSAFE Communications product is in place then school security and public safety professionals from police, fire and EMS can easily initiate or receive communications with school personnel utilizing their existing two-way radios.

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Problem

When there is an incident at a school, some schools have only one method to contact police, with a local phone call. Calling 9-1-1 usually gets the school location information to the authorities; however, once the responders are in route or arrive at the school there is no clear line of communication for them to quickly assess the situation and find the exact location of the event to gain control of the incident. What if the school personnel, principal, administrator, security staff, or others could talk directly to the responders?

Time critical and crucial information from where the incident is occurring could inform the responders with up-to-the-second information so they could respond with the best equipment and personnel to manage the incident.

Solution

Each patrol car, fire engine, and ambulance has a two-way radio installed to allow rapid communications between these first responders and their dispatch center or Public Safely Answering Point (PSAP, where 9-1-1 calls are answered) to control and coordinate their safety and lifesaving actions. Most officers and firemen also carry a handheld radio on the same radio system. SchoolSAFE is the exact same type of public safety radio, and a second radio associated with the communications used within the school.

SchoolSAFE provides digital signaling, a method of bridging these two radios together to allow school personnel carrying radios within the school to talk directly with first responders.

School personnel located near the incident can provide real time information about the situation to assist rapid and succinct actions by the first responders. Not only can the school call the public safely field units on the radio, but the PSAP dispatch or responders can also call the school to alert them to lock their doors or take other emergency precautions based on the incidents outside the school. This will prevent unanswered phone calls or other failures.

The school administrators or school security personnel can constantly monitor the radio bridge for this activity.

School staff or security responds to an incident. After calling the 9-1-1 center, more information is needed. No one now is answering the phone back at the school. How do the first responders know the latest location information or status of the incident?

Technology

SchoolSAFE bridging is based on industry standard devices that are time tested and reliable. Complex public safety radio systems regularly use similar equipment for temporary patches to outside radio systems. This is where SchoolSAFE Communications differentiates itself from temporary radio patches. SchoolSAFE equipment is permanently installed and intergrated into school and public safety data networks to allow remote activation and deactivation, and select personnel alerting.

Technology to prevent unauthorized use and activation is part of the package. The training included with installation will define how to invoke the SchoolSAFE ADI and disable it when necessary.

Package documentation will describe how to schedule regular test and excercises to insure the equipment is useful in an emergency situation. The involvment of public safety officials in your area is encouraged and can be paramount to making the system functional and reliable. With their involvement, radio interoperability is recognized as conducive to their response and important to the safety of their citizenry.

Sales efforts are cognizant of this necessity and will accomplish the cooperative environment with demonstrations and informational meetings between the parties. The SchoolSAFE solution is flexible, radios can be provided for complex or simple radio systems. The SchoolSAFE radios and ADI will be programmed to preclude interference to either system.

The solution will be provided observant of FCC rules and regulations, with either programming or equipment to satisfy licensing demands.

Features

Remote Activation

SchoolSAFE Communications with remote activation software and firmware gives SchoolSAFE an IP address and a presence inside school and PSAP data networks. With this powerful, yet simple activation and de-activation tool, the audio communications is instantly available for rapid response, or for other applications such as audio recording or situation play back. This takes the burden off the school and PSAP staff so they can focus on the incident.

Enhanced Notification

SchoolSAFE Communications with Enhanced Notification Software works in conjunction with Remote Activation to inform and warn students and faculty via e-mail, that a SchoolSAFE event is in progress. Enhanced notification provides awareness to those who need it so the utmost command and control over schools and first responder resources can be attained and situations can be handled most effectively.

Upgrade and Expansion Capabilities

Expansion modules can be easily added in the future. As radio systems change, the SchoolSAFE product can be easily modified to accommodate those changes. Dependent upon what changes, one or two radios can be replaced or reprogrammed. A second channel maybe added for daily use by school security and administrative personnel.

We are here to help you, so if you have any questions, please contact us.

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